Stop Geoengineering Minnesota submitted FOIA requests to the Department of Commerce and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for records concerning weather modification within the Weather Service Organization Workforce. The agency acknowledged receipt of the requests, but when the agency did not respond, Stop Geoengineering Minnesota filed an administrative appeal of the agency's delay. After hearing nothing further from the agency, Stop Geoengineering Minnesota filed suit.Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation - Attorney's fees

SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachment: # 1 Consent Form)(zsb) (Entered: 09/22/2017)

2017-09-22

MINUTE ORDER granting 3 Motion for Leave of Brian Gaffney to Appear Pro Hac Vice only upon condition that the lawyer admitted, or at least one member of the lawyer's firm, undergo CM/ECF training, obtain a CM/ECF username and password, and agree to file papers electronically. No court papers will be mailed to any lawyer. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 9/22/17. (DMK) (Entered: 09/22/2017)

2017-11-07

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RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 10/12/2017. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 11/11/2017. (Gaffney, Brian) (Entered: 11/07/2017)

2017-11-07

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RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 10/12/2017. (Gaffney, Brian) (Entered: 11/07/2017)

2017-11-09

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NOTICE of Appearance by Alexander Daniel Shoaibi on behalf of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE (Shoaibi, Alexander) (Entered: 11/09/2017)

2017-11-09

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Joint MOTION for Extension of Time to File Answer And Establishing The Deadline For Agency FOIA Response by STOP GEOENGINEERING MINNESOTA (Gaffney, Brian) (Entered: 11/09/2017)

2017-11-13

MINUTE ORDER. The Court grants the parties' joint motion to extend the time for defendant to answer and establish the following schedule: By November 29, 2017, the agency shall: (i) complete its search for documents and information responsive to the FOIA Request; (ii) release to plaintiff all non-exempt records responsive to the FOIA Request; and (iii) provide plaintiff with a list of any responsive records that are being withheld and the basis for the withholding. By December 20, 2017, the parties shall confer regarding the release of records responsive to the FOIA Request. By January 12, 2018, the parties shall submit a joint status report, which should include a proposed schedule for further proceedings, including a proposed deadline for filing an answer, if necessary. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 11/13/2017. (lcabj3) Modified on 11/13/2017 (tb). (Entered: 11/13/2017)

2017-11-30

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Consent MOTION to Modify Production Schedule by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE (Shoaibi, Alexander) (Entered: 11/30/2017)

2017-12-04

MINUTE ORDER granting 9 defendant's consent motion to modify the production schedule in this FOIA case. Defendant shall release to plaintiff all non-exempt records responsive to the FOIA Request and shall provide plaintiff with a list of any responsive records that are being withheld and the basis for the withholding by December 4, 2017. The parties shall confer regarding the release of records responsive to the FOIA Request by December 22, 2017. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 12/04/2017. (lcabj3) (Entered: 12/04/2017)

MINUTE ORDER. The parties shall file an updated joint status report by February 26, 2018, which should include a proposed schedule for further proceedings if necessary. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 01/12/2018. (lcabj3) (Entered: 01/12/2018)

MINUTE ORDER. The parties must submit a joint status report by March 16, 2018, proposing a schedule by which defendant will produce the records it has identified as responsive to plaintiff's request. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 02/27/2018. (lcabj3) (Entered: 02/27/2018)

MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the parties' Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that: defendant must process 1,400 potentially responsive documents each month, and release to plaintiff's counsel on the first Friday of each month all reasonably segregable, non-exempt information within those 1,400 documents. The parties must file a joint status report every 60 days, and the next joint status report is due June 18, 2018. Signed by Judge Amy Berman Jackson on 04/17/2018. (lcabj3) (Entered: 04/17/2018)